Powers of the Monk – It’s Your Voodoo Working (2024)
For almost two decades, give a year or two, Powers of the Monk have been entertaining the masses with their eclectic rock style. From their 2006 album Killing Time to the recent single ‘Puffy Head’, David s. Monk (vocals, guitar and keyboards) and CasSondra Powers (vocals and violin) have traversed the realms of electronic rock, indie-pop, indie-folk, blues, Americana and classic rock; so, while the more recent stuff has what might be considered a rock ‘n’ roll sound, the US-based pair are no strangers to innovation, originality and versatility. We came across Powers of the Monk with ‘Puffy Head’, but today let’s take a turn about their new single ‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’.
Following the well-received ‘Puffy Head’ and ‘Switchin’ Rails’, Powers of the Monk tackle Charles Sheffield’s 1961 tune, ‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’. With no knowledge of this acclaimed single, I had to take a listen and Powers of the Monk’s cover adds a new dimension to the track. While the hint of blues-rock lingers in the remake, a harder classic rock sound wiggles through the melody.
Acting like a kaleidoscopic wave of sound, the combination of bold guitars, bass and drums is hypnotic. Hard-hitting and a real twirl of rock music, there is weighty forcefulness to ‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’; then again, that might be CasSondra Powers’ vocals that add depth within slightly subdued tones. Potentially the greatest difference, her gritty voice might be harsher than Sheffield’s bluesy-ness, but it shares the same attitude as the original.
A song about addiction, whether it’s falling in lust or finding a release in drugs or alcohol, ‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’ holds a sense of desperation in its intoxicating sound. For me, Charles Sheffield brought vulnerability to the song, but Powers’ voice is a sultry grin with mischievous eyes that you can’t help but love. I have only one complaint about the Powers of the Monk version, it ends too soon. I suppose this is the case with Sheffield’s version but, for some strange reason, I felt far more disappointed about the cover ending than the original. Unforgettable and sensational, Powers of the Monk make ‘It’s Your Voodoo Working’ stick in your head for a while to come.
Find out more about Powers of the Monk on their Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more rock music on The Other Side Reviews Rock playlist:
